Retired NDS official among 3 killed in violence

FARAH CITY (Pajhwok): A former National Directorate of Security (NDS) service member and a civilian were killed separately by unknown gunmen in western Farah province, officials said on Saturday.

Police spokesman Nasir Mehri told Pajhwok Afghan News that former NDS retired major Rahmatullah was gunned down by unknown armed men in Farah City, the provincial capital, late on Friday.

The killers had managed to flee and police were investigating the case, he said.

Separately, a policeman and a shopkeeper were shot dead by unknown motorcyclists in Shibkoh district on Friday afternoon.

A resident of the area, who declined to be named, said the policeman was buying grocery when came under attack. The shopkeeper was also killed.

Pajhwok tried to contact the police headquarters, but failed.

In central Parwan province, a six-year-old boy was released by his kidnappers after holding him in captivity for 10 days.

The child, , Bilal Ahmad, a resident of Charikar, the provincial capital, had been kidnapped from the city, police spokesman Mohammad Alam Mukhles said.

The child was a private school student who had been kidnapped 10 days ago from the 1st police district. The abductors had demanded $100,000 in ransom from Bilal’s family, but released him after realizing his father, a shopkeeper, could not pay the amount.